Contempt of Court Case: “Think Again!” Supreme Court Warns Imran Khan May Be Required to Appear if Notice Is Issued

Islamabad: The Supreme Court has advised the Additional Attorney General to seek further instructions from the government regarding the contempt of court petition filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. During the hearing, the bench’s head, Justice Aminuddin Khan, remarked that if the court issued a notice, it would be mandatory for Imran Khan to appear before the court. Justice Jamal Mandokhel also pointed out that contempt is a matter between the court and the individual involved, urging the legal representatives not to become emotional.
The Supreme Court’s seven-member constitutional bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the government’s contempt petition against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. During the proceedings, Justice Aminuddin asked whether the government was serious about pursuing the case. The Additional Attorney General confirmed that the government would follow through with the case, claiming that Imran Khan had defied a court order during the May 25 long march.
Justice Aminuddin Khan emphasized that if a notice was issued, Imran Khan would have to appear before the court, and advised the government to seek further instructions. Justice Jamal Mandokhel commented that contempt cases involve only the court and the individual accused, and asked why the legal team was becoming emotional, suggesting that the court was merely guiding them.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, stated that a response had been submitted on behalf of the PTI leader, but due to the mobile service shutdown, the notice had not been received promptly. He explained that the lawyers could not contact their client during the communication blackout.
Justice Masarat Hilali inquired if the former Prime Minister had received the notice, to which Raja replied that the response had been filed after the notice was received. Subsequently, the bench postponed the hearing indefinitely.
In another related case, the Supreme Court also ruled in favor of PTI’s request for a judicial inquiry into the events of May 9. The bench, under Justice Aminuddin Khan’s leadership, cleared objections from the Registrar’s Office and allowed the petition to be scheduled for hearing. PTI’s lawyer, Hamid Khan, argued that it had been over a year without clarification on the May 9 incident and criticized the state of emergency-like conditions, where military forces were called to manage protests.
Justice Masarat Hilali remarked that if martial law was being referenced, it was self-imposed, and Justice Jamal Mandokhel questioned the sweeping nature of such claims without supporting evidence. Hamid Khan further argued that hundreds of FIRs had been filed after May 9, and his party had been unfairly targeted.
The court also addressed concerns regarding the petition’s public interest, with the Additional Attorney General arguing that it did not meet the criteria for a public interest matter. Justice Aminuddin Khan stated that the petition could be heard on merit once the objections were resolved.
In a separate matter, the court dismissed Imran Khan’s request for transfer from Adiala Jail to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, imposing a fine of Rs. 20,000. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that if Khan faced any issues, he could file the request himself, and no such application had been submitted by his lawyers. Justice Mandokhel remarked that personal matters, such as the transfer of a detainee, should not be framed as national issues.
The hearing concluded with the dismissal of the transfer request and the imposition of the fine.